Antioch

1 Mina

Metal: Copper alloy (bronze or brass)

Cast

Square

9.00 cm

9.10 cm

0.00 cm

Mass (g)	Mass (grain)	Date of measurement	Reference	fragmented	cleaned	reference weight
501.00	-	-	Auction Leu 2025	No	No	Yes

Symbol	Technique	Direction	Position	Number	Synecdoche
Elephant	Relief	LEFT	Walking
Anchor	Relief
Lattice pattern	Relief
Egg and dart pattern	Relief

Auction Leu 2025: SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Antiochia on the Orontes, 3rd-2nd centuries BC. Weight of 1 Mina (Bronze, 90x91 mm, 501.00 g). Indian elephant walking to the left; above, ANTIOXEIOΣ; in upper left field, Seleukid anchor; below ground line, MNA; all within decorative collonaded border with plant ornament in the edges. Rev. Lattice work design. Pondera -, cf. 543 (with the name of a magistrate) and 484 (similar design, but from Seleukeia in Pieria). Unpublished and unique. A highly impressive large Seleukid commercial weight. Minor roughness and with some metal faults on the reverse, otherwise, good very fine.

No

Language	Technique	Legend type
Greek	Relief	Denomination, Mint

Ἀντιόχειος | μνᾶ.

GREEK

FROM -300 TO -100

Name	Date of acquisition	Inventory number
Antiquities Trade	May 31, 2025	None

Reference	Page/Column	Reference (number)	Plate / Figure	Comment
Auction Leu 2025a	162–163	253	None	None

Auction Leu 2025: This impressive weight, weighing one mina, comes from Antiochia on the Orontes, one of the most important Seleukid foundations in northern Syria. While it refers to the city of Antiochia, the symbolism - particularly the anchor and the war elephant - remains unmistakably royal. The pachyderm and the anchor, both key symbols of the Seleukid dynasty, underscore the rulers' desire to project their power and sovereignty Elephants played a significant role in many Hellenistic armies, but after Seleukos' agreement with Chandragupta in 303 BC, in which 500 war elephants were exchanged for the cession of the Indian provinces, they became one of the defining symbols of the Seleukid Empire - alongside the anchor. In addition to their military role, elephants were also associated with India and with Dionysos' eastern campaigns, making them a fitting emblem for the kings of Asia. This weight has a counterpart in Pondera 484, which comes from Seleukeia in Pieria, Antiochia’s harbor city. Another piece from Antiochia (Pondera 543) likely dates from the post-Seleukid period, as it mentions a magistrate but omits the royal anchor. This shift reflects the change from royal symbols to those of civic authority, but the elephant, as a royal emblem, persists, linking it now to Antiochia, the last Seleukid royal residence

https://leunumismatik.com/en/lot/56/253